On October 8, 2025, a Buenos Aires courtroom delivered a verdict that reverberated across Argentina and beyond: Fernando Sabag Montiel was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and Brenda Uliarte received an eight-year sentence, both convicted for their roles in the failed 2022 assassination attempt on Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. The dramatic conclusion of this high-profile trial capped a saga that has both convulsed and captivated the nation, highlighting the deep political rifts that define modern Argentina.
The attack itself, which unfolded on the night of September 1, 2022, outside Fernández de Kirchner’s home in Buenos Aires, remains etched in the country’s collective memory. According to the Associated Press, Sabag Montiel slipped through a dense crowd of supporters, thrust a loaded firearm at the face of the then-vice president, and pulled the trigger. In a twist that seemed almost cinematic, the gun failed to discharge, leaving Fernández de Kirchner unharmed but the nation shaken.
The attempted assassination sent shockwaves across Argentina, sparking immediate street protests from Fernández de Kirchner’s loyal followers and, at the same time, fueling a wave of skepticism and conspiracy theories among her critics. Reuters reported that the incident “shocked Argentina and drew widespread international condemnation,” underscoring just how polarizing Fernández de Kirchner remains after more than three decades at the forefront of Argentine politics.
At the time of the attack, Fernández de Kirchner, now 72, was no stranger to controversy. She had already served two terms as Argentina’s president (from 2007 to 2015) and was serving as vice president. Her tenure was marked by a brand of left-wing populism that, according to the Associated Press, “brought Argentina infamy for its runaway inflation and enormous fiscal deficits.” She was also embroiled in a corruption trial—accused of steering lucrative public roadworks contracts to a friend’s company. Earlier in 2025, she was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison for corruption. However, citing her age and heightened safety concerns after the assassination attempt, a court allowed her to serve her sentence under house arrest in Buenos Aires.
Despite her conviction and a ban from holding public office, Fernández de Kirchner has remained an active and outspoken political figure. From her apartment, she continues to post sharp critiques of her rivals—particularly President Javier Milei, a libertarian whose policies stand in stark contrast to her own. She also maintains a visible public presence, waving to crowds gathered below her balcony and welcoming high-profile visitors, such as Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who visited in July 2025. The Associated Press noted that even under house arrest, Fernández de Kirchner “remains outspoken against her political nemesis.”
The prosecution’s case against Sabag Montiel and Uliarte was built on a trove of digital evidence and surveillance. WhatsApp chats revealed detailed discussions about the firearm and suggested that the former couple had surveilled Fernández de Kirchner’s routines and security measures in the days leading up to the attack. As reported by the Associated Press, prosecutors argued that Sabag Montiel and Uliarte “planned the assassination attempt in advance,” even visiting Fernández de Kirchner’s home to observe her patterns.
During the trial, Sabag Montiel confessed to the crime in open court, stating that his motive was to “exact justice for Fernández’s alleged corruption.” This admission, widely covered by the Associated Press, gave the case a jarring personal dimension, blending political animus with criminal intent. Uliarte, however, denied any involvement, maintaining her innocence after her arrest, which took place several days after the failed attack.
The failed assassination attempt did more than just rattle Argentina’s political class; it exposed the raw nerves of a society deeply divided over Fernández de Kirchner’s legacy. Her supporters, who rallied outside her home in the wake of the attack, see her as a victim of political persecution. They point to her own claims that the corruption charges are “politically motivated,” a stance she has reiterated repeatedly. On the other hand, her critics—emboldened by her conviction—regard the attack and its aftermath with suspicion, often questioning the official narrative and suggesting ulterior motives.
Street protests erupted almost immediately after the attack, with Fernández de Kirchner’s die-hard supporters clashing with skeptics and fueling a volatile atmosphere. The Associated Press described the episode as one that “provoked street protests from Fernández’s die-hard supporters as well as skepticism and conspiracy theories from her fervent critics.” The country’s deep-seated political polarization was laid bare, with little common ground to be found between the two camps.
The international response was swift and unequivocal. Reuters reported that the attack “drew widespread international condemnation,” with leaders from across the region and the world expressing solidarity and concern for Argentina’s democratic institutions. The failed assassination attempt on such a high-profile political figure was seen as a troubling sign of the country’s tense and sometimes chaotic political climate.
As the dust settles on the verdict, questions linger about what comes next for Argentina’s political landscape. Fernández de Kirchner, though confined to her apartment, continues to exert influence, both through her social media presence and her ability to draw attention from global leaders. President Javier Milei, meanwhile, remains her most vocal adversary, representing a radically different vision for the country’s future.
The sentences handed down to Sabag Montiel and Uliarte—10 years and eight years, respectively—mark a decisive end to one chapter of this ongoing saga. But for many Argentines, the deeper issues laid bare by the attack and trial remain unresolved. The country’s divisions, both political and social, are as pronounced as ever, and the legacy of Fernández de Kirchner continues to loom large over national life.
In a nation where politics is often a high-stakes, high-drama affair, the story of the botched assassination attempt and its aftermath serves as a stark reminder of both the dangers and the passions that define Argentine democracy. The verdict may have brought legal closure, but the political and emotional reverberations are sure to echo for years to come.
